The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-17
CARLOTTA.
"reminiscences of the Mexican
Empire of Macmillan.

"reminiscences of the Mexican
Empire of Macmillan.
[BY LADY OF TEXAS
The latest about the unfortunate ex-
empress of Mexico is from the Paris
Figaro, and is as follows:
1.-THE news from Tervueren reports a
painful scene which took place at the
chateau where the widow of the unfortu-
nate Macmillan presides. The encourage
of the Empress Carlotta seek by every
possible means to keep her attention en-
gagged and her mind busy. One of the
means most frequently employed is to
have pile of newspapers under her eyes.
The other day somebody of the household
unfortunately placed in her work basket a
journal containing notice of Juarez, a
drama, by NJ. Gassier. The ex-empress
took up the journal and glanced at it with
her wonted Indifference, but all at once
her eyes sparklsd and she shrieked,
"Juarez! Juarez! Look at them together
Macmillan, Juarez, Bazaine. Quick!
Quick want to save my husband"
The woman-in- waiting and the physi-
clan to her majesty rushed in and tried to
calm her, but she would not be COM
forted. She wanted her trunks packed
at once, to go and save her husband be-
fore he would be shot. The trunks were
packed, and she was told that a special
train had been ordered. The empress
wished to start at once, but by much per-
suasion consented to take cup of coffee
before going on the Especial train" A
potion was stealthily infused into the cof
fee by one of the physicians, and the en-
press at once dropped to sleep. She did
| fha Foil xph
she had forgotten all about the affair, and
she has not talked of her husband since.
"Poor Carlotta," the world may have
been crowded with breaking hearts dur
ing the past quarter of century, equally
with any other period since the human
family upon its surface began to find
themselves in possession of hearts, with
refined material sufficient to admit of
their breaking by two sudden wrench of
their vital elements, but we will venture
the assertion, that, in no stage of It's
grief laden annals, will we find where the
rivers of sympathy have sent out their
tributaries, from all directions, in the
case of single individual, as they have
done in that of the beautiful consort of
the unfortunate Macmillan. And it
is singular freak in destiny
that the great fire, whose superior
! light lured them both to destruction,
should have been extinguished but few
short weeks in advance of their own; for
it was through the bad policy of Napoleon
III that they were led into the Mexican
trap which stilled the heart of that high
born prince in his bosom forever. Well
does the writer remember the day when
the French army took possession of Mata-
moras with all the pomp and noise and
hustle, parade and circumstance of a
Napoleonic legion. Eight hundred of the
troops were those the emperor termed
his pet brigade; not one of whom stood
less than six feet high in his socks, nor
one whose standing weight was less than
one hundred and siXty-fve or seventy
pounds, and rot one of them shade
lighter than the surface of polished ebony
ia their mplexion. They were all ma
tives of Hayti, and had been selected with
much precision for the purpose of ascer-
tanning their capabilities as well drilled
soldiers in the regular army. The expert
ment proved an efficient one, it seems, to
the French, as they soon became the
admiration and pride of the ruler
into whose service they were mustered,
and of great assistance to their
companions III arms. There we're many
thousand soldiers beside this Haytian bril-
gade that marched in proud array to the
public square in the center of the city, and
at their front the stately officers presided
in that peculiar satisfied manner which so
manifestly bespeaks nations confidence
Martial music sent its soul thrilling strains
along every nerve of the listening be-
; holder, and the steady tramp of the march
ing host seemed to vibrate its regular thuC
upon every chord of his heart. The
thoughts of home and far away friends
would we'll up in spite of him, and big
tears mark their traces down his bronzee
features, however much the manly hear
beneath his breast should strive to sup
press them. At dewfall with thousands
, who were carried thither upon the current
of curiosity, we repaired to the park foi
an immediate view of the swelling battal
ions. Near the middle of the enclosure
, were arranged, according to their rank
the various officers and their attendants
+ on one side of mound, upon whose
| summit stood a few trees of stuntet
growth; on the other were standing il
long lines their men, in front of whom sa
the war choir in full blast of its soul stir
, ring trumpetings, and around the out
skirts shivered the wondering inhabitant
of this tropical city. A half length por
trait of Carlotta was suspended high owe
all, to which, ever and anon, every cyl
was turned IN manner that spoke fa1
; more forcibly than words could do of thu
general admiration. The full moon shon'
bright, yet softly, down upon her queenly
head, whereon rested not one shadow Of
that terrible destiny awaiting it on the
scroll of the very near future. Her ten
der eyes seemed proudly contemplating
the noble features of the magnificen
: Macmillan, whose portrait was there par
allel with her own, which appeared equal
ly proud of its beautiful companion; anC
many hearts were present that could no
well conceal regrets that dame forum,
had not dealt so propitious a future TO
themselves. But the moon went SILENT,
to her rest, and the deep night settled
over the agitated city, and dead cain
supervened, akin to that which is said t,
precede the wrenching of volcanic erup
! tions. A silence that was SO portentiou
! of the political upheayals which we've sooi
, to bury these proud heads beneath tn
scorching lava of its unremitting ven
geance, and whose subsistence was Il
leave the world to mourn it's unrelentinl
DEGREES. LoTTIE O. EFNoR.
Hampstead, Texas, February, 1887.